they had once faced the Romans in the field.  A number of these desperadoes broke out of one of the Capuan gladiatorial schools (681), and sought refuge on Mount Vesuvius.  At their head were two Celts, who were designated by their slave-names Crixus and Oenomaus, and the Thracian Spartacus.  The latter, perhaps a scion of the noble family of the Spartocids which attained even to royal honours in its Thracian home and in Panticapaeum, had served among the Thracian auxiliaries in the Roman army, had deserted and gone as a brigand to the mountains, and had been there recaptured and destined for the gladiatorial games.

The Insurrection Takes Shape

The inroads of this little band, numbering at first only seventy-four persons, but rapidly swelling by concourse from the surrounding country, soon became so troublesome to the inhabitants of the rich region of Campania, that these, after having vainly attempted themselves to repel them, sought help against them from Rome.  A division of 3000 men hurriedly collected appeared under the leadership of Clodius Glaber, and occupied the approaches to Vesuvius with the view of starving out the slaves.  But the brigands in spite of their small number and their defective armament had the boldness to scramble down steep declivities and to fall upon the Roman posts; and when the wretched militia saw the little band of desperadoes unexpectedly assail them, they took to their heels and fled on all sides.  This first success procured for the robbers arms and increased accessions to their ranks.  Although even now a great portion of them carried nothing but pointed clubs, the new and stronger division of the militia—­ two legions under the praetor Publius Varinius—­which advanced from Rome into Campania, found them encamped almost like a regular army in the plain.  Varinius had a difficult position.  His militia, compelled to bivouac opposite the enemy, were severely weakened by the damp autumn weather and the diseases which it engendered; and, worse than the epidemics, cowardice and insubordination thinned the ranks.  At the very outset one of his divisions broke up entirely, so that the fugitives did not fall back on the main corps, but went straight home.  Thereupon, when the order was given to advance against the enemy’s entrenchments and attack them, the greater portion of the troops refused to comply with it.  Nevertheless Varinius set out with those who kept their ground against the robber-band; but it was no longer to be found where he sought it.  It had broken up in the deepest silence and had turned to the south towards Picentia (Vicenza near Amain), where Varinius overtook it indeed, but could not prevent it from retiring over the Silarus into the interior of Lucania, the chosen land of shepherds and robbers.  Varinius followed thither, and there at length the despised enemy arrayed themselves for battle.  All the circumstances under which the combat took place were to the disadvantage of the Romans: